FILM
Billie Whitelaw, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp. 119 mins. The long planned biopic of the terrible twins: Ronnie and Reggie, comes crashing onto the screen. Director Medak opts to imbue their lives with the mythic qualities of a fairytale and thereby ignores most of the grisly details of their reign of fear. Whether or not you believe that their sordid tale deserves such treatment, the Spandau siblings do turn in a passable impersonation , despite their love of gazing moodin at the camera. Edinburgh: UCl.
I Lethal Weapon (18) (Richard Donner. US, 1987) Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey. 109 mins. Gibson is a widower psychotically bent on revenge (any resemblance to Mad Max being purely incidental), while Glover is a middle-aged, middle-class family man. Formula buddy cop movie, lifted just above the average by its touch of humanity and charismatic performances. Glasgow: Cannon Sauchiehall Street.
I Lethal Weapon 2 (15) (Richard Donner, US, 1989) Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Patsy Kensit. 113 mins. Wooden return for Gibson as Vietnam Vet turned cop, looking like a cross between Aled Jones and Rambo. With Eric Clapton pounding away on the soundtrack, Lethal Weapon 2 dredges up every action movie cliche the director and scriptwriters can think of. All escapist fluff of course, but nevertheless a disappointing follow-up to the original. Glasgow: Cannon Sauchiehall Street.
I Look Who’s Talking (12) (Amy Heckerling, US, 1989) John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Olympia Dukakis. 97 mins. In Travolta‘s much-hyped comeback he plays stand-in papa to Alley‘s first baby, but is quicker to meet approval from the little brat, via the voiced-over musings of one Bruce Willis, than he is fromits confused and binkered mama. Crass. lowbrow and thus extremely popular comedy whose sole redeeming feature is the natural charm of the trusty Travolta. Edinburgh: UCl.
I Music Box (15) (Costa-Gavras, US, 1990) Jessica Lange, Armin Mueller Stahl, Frederic Forrest. 126 mins. Lange plays a successful Chicago lawyer whose Hungarian immigrant father (Armin Mueller Stahl) is threatened with the loss of his American citizenship when he is suspected of collaborating in wartime atrocities against Budapest Jews. Believing unswervingly in her dad’s innocence she takes on the task of defending him herself, yet asthe courtroom testimonies pile up heinous accusations, the jury‘s growing doubts are matched only by her own fears. Stimulating and finally moving combination of Hollywood family drama and the director‘s customary politiciscd grit. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
I Nuns on the Run ( 12) (Jonathon Lynn, US. 1989) Eric Idle, Robbie Coltrane. Janet Suzman. 95 mins. There‘s a little more to this slapstick comedy than the title suggests. Idle and Coltrane, both in top form, two small time crooks who bungle their final heist up and soon find themselves taking refuge disguised as nuns in a convent. The unpredictable gags that follow easily surpass the high standards of the above-average Carry-On film. it has proved immensely popular across the Atlantic too. Edinburgh: UCl.
I Parenthood (15) (Ron Howard, US, 1989) Steve Martin. Diane Wiest, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis. 124 mins. A film apparently derived from the experiences of Ron ‘Mr Nice Film‘ Howard, the ex-Happy Days star. Our Steve, ex-Happy Feet star, is in his element as a lovable jerk trying hard to be a good dad. However, the climactic montage where every member of the cast is either giving birth or cuddling some cute wee baby in glutinous slow-motion had our critic reaching for his Sten gun. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Pink Floyd The Wall (Alan Parker, UK, 1982) Bob Geldof, Christine Hargreaves, Bob Hoskins. 95 mins. An ambitious
attempt by Parker and the Floyd‘s Roger Waters to turn the band’s album The Wall into a visual . almost dialogue-less story, in which a schoolboy named Pink grows up to be an isolated rock star. The result did not match the ambition. Strathclyde: UCl East Kilbride.
I Pretty Woman (15) (Garry Marshall, US. 1990) Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Ralph Bellamy. 120 mins. In this hugely succesful comedy-romance, Gere stars as an unfeeling financial wheeler-dealer discovering he is human after all when he spends a week in the company of Roberts‘ downhome goodtime girl. Conversely, she rediscovers her self-esteem by flawlessly carrying off the role of his high society companion, so the audience can feel happy for both of them. The outline might be as hackneyed as they come , but television veteran Marshall has just the right lightness of touch. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon, UCl. Strathclyde: UCI Clydebank, UCl East Kilbride.
I ha: The Path ollhe Sun God (U) (Lesley Keen, UK, 1990) 72 mins. Scots animator Lesley Keen and her team worked for four years, painstakingly drawing and assembling this remarkable feature , a visual panorama of the art and ideas of ancient Greece that further expands the director‘s interest in animated filmmaking with a definite intellectual content expressed through formal innovation. See Backlist feature. Glasgow: Tramway.
I Rome. Open City (PG) (Roberto Rosselini, Italy, 1945) Anna Magnani, Aldo Fabrizi, Marcello Paglicro. 101 mins. Rosselini‘s definitive neo-realist film was shot in horrendously difficult circumstances at the end of the war and provides a compelling picture of the resistance movement’s efforts to disrupt the fascist authorities. These days what’s perhaps most remarkable about the film is its refusal to conform to the then conventional filmic notions of sentimentality and heroism in favour of a hard edge that remains grimly affecting. Glasgow: GFI‘.
I Sea 01 Love (18) (Harold Becker, US, 1989) Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin, John Goodman, Michael Rooker. 118 mins. Pacino, a homicide detective in search of a murderer whose crimes seem to be connected with the personal ads, sets up a date with single mother Barkin. and, although attracted to her, begins to suspect that she is the killer. The plot may be on the creaky side, but the performances from both leads are spot-on, the dialogue and the sex scenes are remarkably realistic. However, the film is more likely to be remembered for its humour than for its tension. Edinburgh: UCl.
I She’s Out 01 Control (12) (Stan Dragoti, US, 1990) Tony Danza, Amy Dolenz, Wallace Shawn. 97 mins. With a little help from her pop’s girlfriend spcccy Californian 15 year-old Dolenz overnight becomes a nubile nymphet, much to dad Danza’s consternation. As admiration from the local male teenfolk starts _ queuing round the block, the old man seeks the help of populist self-help shrink Shawn and mounts an increasingly incompetent surveillance campaign. Despite a few lines that would make the most stalwart People‘s Friend subscriber squirm with embarassment, this is a fairly enjoyable if predictable morality comedy for undemanding youngsters. Glasgow: Odeon.
I A Short Film About Love ( l8) (Krzysztof Kieslowski, Poland, 1988) Grazyna Szapolowska, Olaf Lubaszenko, Stefania lwinska. 87 mins. The second offering to be developed as a feature film from Kieslowski‘s television Dekalog (Ten Commandments) is every bit as impressive as the European Film Award~winningA Short Film About Killing. Here. teenage postal clerk Tomek falls obsessively in love with the enigmatic and attractive artist Magda on whom he routinely spies in her apartment. Eventually, he plucks
up the courage to approach her, but his notions of love are soon to be dispelled by an experience that is to alter both their feelings. Concentrated and probing investigation of the nature of our affections. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Spaced Invaders (PG) (Patrick Read Johnson, US, 1990) Douglas Barr, Royal Dano, Ariana Richards. 90 mins. On the 50th anniversary of Orson Welles’ original War Of The Worlds radio broadcast a gang of cuddly aliens land on Earth to begin their quest for world domination from the unlikely base of Big Bean, Illinois. Only the intervention of Sheriff Barr and curmudgeonly farmer Royal Dano can save the planet from Lieutenant Blaznee (a fashionable ‘Jack Nicholson in space‘ it says here) and his pumpkin-headed mob of extraterrestrials. Glasgow: Cannon The Forge. Edinburgh: Odeon. UCl. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr, UCl Clydebank, UCl East Kilbride, WMR Film Centre.
I Tle Me Up! Tie Me Down! ( 18) (Pedro Almodovar, Spain, 1990) Antonio Banderas, Victoria Abril, Francisco Rabal. 101 mins. It’s women on the verge of cxpoloitation time as Almodovar reveals his most provacative confection to date with a bare outline that reads more like mere sexist trash: male loony Banderas kidnaps porno queen Abril, ties her to the bed, pumps her full ofdrugs and, lo, they fall in love. Look beyond the sordid details however and the film creates its own moral logic based on mutual need
between two very damaged characters. In
the end, Almodovar manages to wring moments of real emotional resonance out ofthe most unpromising material, so we should give him a little credit even ifsome doubts remain. Glasgow: GFT.
I Total Recall (18) (Paul Verhoeven, US. 1990) Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sharon Stone, Michael lronside. 109 mins. ln Verhoeven‘s hugely expensive rollercoaster of violence Arnie plays an ordinary construction worker whose trip to vacational fantasy implant service Rekall Incorporated is to pitch him into an unpredictable netherworld of murderous assassins and femmes fatalcs before unleashing the full truth about his nightmares of life on Mars. The crazy Dutchman's Martian chronicle. teeming with sicko incident, is powered along by bursts of gee-ain‘t-this-fun-brutality but scores points for the playful ingenuity of the plotting, and Arnie looks like he‘s enjoying himself. Glasgow: Cannon The Forge, Odeon, Salon. Edinburgh: Odeon. UCl. Central: Allanpark, Caledonian. Strathclyde: Cannon, Kelburne. Odeon Ayr, Odeon Hamilton. UCl Clydebank. UCl East Kilbride.
I Treasure Island (PG) (Fraser 1 leston. US/UK. 1990) Charlton Heston, Christian Bale, Christopher Lee. 133 mins. Well. shiver me timbers if it ain‘t Cap'n Heston pere with only one leg and a parrot hamming away in this new version ofthe Robert Louis Stevenson tale. And blow me if it ain't that Master Bale from Empire of The Sun in the role ofJim lad. More than that we daren‘t say, except to add that our critical black spot is on its way to writer/producer/director Heston fils. care ofthe Admiral Benbow sushi bar. Burbank. Central: Cannon. Regal.
I Wild At Heart ( 18) (David Lynch, US. 1990) Nicholas Cage. Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe. 127 mins. See feature. Edinburgh: Cameo, UCl.
I Wild Orchid (18) (Zalman King. US. 1990) Mickey Rourke. Jacqueline Bisset. Carrie Otis. 90 mins. Zalman King. the man whose previous offerings Nine anda Half Weeks and Two Moon Junction virtually created the sub-genre we've come to call ‘pretentious irritating softcore humbug‘, or PlSll for short. returns with another, er. slice of the same. This time the setting is world lambada capital Rio. where Mickey Rourke once more initiates lithe young ingenue Carrie Otis into the intricacies ofdesigner honking. The PR lady on the film bet usa
tenner that we‘d swear those two are actually shagging. Yup, it‘s that kinda movie. Edinburgh: UCl. IWinps Ol Desire (15) (Wim Wenders, w. Germany, 1987) Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin. Peter Falk. 127 mins. Restless angel Ganz on duty over Berlin takes a tip from American movie star and former angel Falk on the possibilities of crossing over, and follows his mentor‘s path to consummate his relationship with beautiful circus acrobat Dommartin. Gorgeous black-and-white photography and a sensitive feel for the people and places of Berlin grace this thematically rich and uncharacteristically optimistic slice of Wenders enchantment. Highly recommended. Glasgow: GFT. IThe Witches (PG) (Nicholas Roeg. US. 1990) Anjelica Huston. Mai Zetterling, Rowan Atkinson. 92 mins. Nine year-old Luke is warned by his Norwegian granny about the everpresent threat posed by the existence of witches. which isn‘t much help actually because within the next half hour he stumbles on their annual convention in a small English hotel and gets himselfchanged into a mouse for his pains. A pleasing adaption of Roald Dahl‘s children‘s story has director Roeg (in unusually straightforward manner) creating a superior kids movie that has you rooting for the mice all the way. Lotsof fun. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr, Odeon Hamilton. I Your Cheatin’ Heart (Michael Whyte, UK. 1990) John Gordon Sinclair,Tilda Swinton , Ken Scott. 6 x 50 mins. Special preview showing of all six episodes ofthe new John Byrne series for the Beeb. Hot on the heels of the hugely successful Tutti Frutti. comes this witty tale lifting the lid offthe Scottish Country n Western underground. John Gordon Sinclair stars as a humble food journalist drawn intoa murder case who seeks the help of good ol' gal Tilda Swinton. the widow ofcountry singer Dorwood Crouch who‘s out to clear her husband‘s name. Glasgow: GFI‘.
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